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Hebrews 4:12
12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
At the recent Elijah List sponsored, Fresh Fire and Master Potter Ministries’ joint Glory Week Conference with Todd Bentley, Jill Austin, Bobby Conner, and Paul Keith Davis, the Angel of Counsel and Might visited me as well as Todd and two of his interns, who were at two different locations but it was during the same time frame.
November 15, 2003
I experienced a profound angelic visitation about the Sword of the Lord, end time martyrdom, and the key to apostolic authority, which I will share in three parts. This encounter with heaven offered me fresh, new revelation detailing a shifting in the heavenlies. I believe that it is a Kairos corporate word to the Body of Christ about the Sword of the Lord that He is releasing corporately to the Body of Christ right now.
Angel of Counsel and Might
Bobby Conner came into my session when I was ministering so I greeted him and grabbed his hands with a good morning handshake. The moment I touched his hands, I felt a portal of glory open above me. A huge angel, 30 feet tall and towering above me, suddenly was knocking me around the front of the room. I could see the glint of a brilliant sword in His hands and a golden sash. The heavens started to open as angelic activity moved powerfully throughout the room. A realm of revelation and angelic activity permeated the atmosphere as I ministered prophetically to the people.
Simultaneously, this mighty angel visited Todd in his hotel room and also offered him the sword. It had a ruby stone in its handle and the blade of the sword was inscribed with Hebrews 4:12. Todd knew that this was the revelatory anointing of discerning hearts and thoughts. Then the angel told Todd that it was for Paul Keith, who was ministering Saturday night. That afternoon Todd moved powerfully in words of knowledge under an open heaven.
I Just Want to Kiss Your Heart, Lord
Later that night when Paul Keith was ministering, a corporate realm of God came into the room. Bobby Conner encouraged the room to ask for a prophet’s reward – to specifically petition God for a request.
I started crying out to Jesus silently, “Lord, I know that I need to minister to everyone since this is the last meeting of the conference, and the people are so hungry and desperate for more of You. But Lord, if You were to give me just one thing, I wouldn’t want a title, a name, or money - I would just want to kiss Your heart.”
As Paul Keith was closing the meeting, he quietly told me that there was a huge angel on the side of the stage and asked me if I wanted to come up. I immediately replied “Yes” and came up on the stage.
Pierced by the Sword of the Lord
Suddenly, the power of God hit me and I was violently flung to the floor. Swiftly, without warning, a huge living sword was literally plunged into my chest. Pinned to the ground, I looked up and saw a huge warring angel, towering approximately 30 feet tall, standing in front of me. By revelation, I instantly knew this was the angel from the morning session, the Angel of Counsel and Might, who was piercing me with the same sword of Heb. 4:12.
As this realm of heaven engulfed me with liquid fire and glory, I could not move. Finally, when I was able to get up, my hands shot out in front of me and I was holding this awesome living sword of light. The sword was drawn before me as lightning shot from the blade into the eternal realm.
Standing behind me, the Angel of the Lord was holding my hands. I was this little child, engulfed in His arms, as we held this magnificent, shimmering sword together. The sword was the living Word full of authority, and as I held it, the fear of the Lord and the holiness of the Eternal One radiated throughout my being.
Living Word of God: Release from William Branham
Paul Keith explained the significance of this verse later Sunday afternoon. Many prophets minister through the help of angels who offer prophetic revelation. However, William Branham, a prophet who moved in a very unusual signs and wonders during the great healing revival of the fifties, did not merely minister with an angel. Rather, the Living Word would stand on stage with him and release a razor-sharp revelatory anointing of discerning between thoughts and intentions as this verse declares.
Branham, like Paul Cain, operated under an open heaven with an unusual word of knowledge: names, addresses, sicknesses – intensely detailed information was readily available through the sword of the Spirit.
Paul Keith explained that in 1956, William Branham had released a key word that the healing wave was over because America had grieved the Holy Spirit. America had missed the revival. Paul Keith explained that a generation (40 years) later, in 1996, God reversed that decree through an incredible prophetic turn of events in a meeting with Bob Jones, Paul Keith and a descendent of William Branham.
Zadok Priesthood
The Lord revealed to me that this sword was the Zadok priestly sword, as in Ezekiel 44:
Ezek 44:23-24
“And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
Ezek 44:15-16
“But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood, says the Lord GOD. 16 They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.”
Bobby Conner also offered great revelation about this sword. He explained that God’s definition of “profane” is more than just something that is empty, worthless and without eternal value: it is doing anything that God has not initiated. He said that if we target anything that God hasn’t targeted first, we become a target. Zadok priests operate in a greater level of discernment and are able to separate the precious from the profane.
There is a higher wisdom available from the Throne of Heaven. The Zadok priesthood is a sign of a royal priesthood coming forth with a higher maturity in the prophetic. These priests operate in more than a gifting, but rather in an intimate relationship with the Living Word of God – Jesus Christ.
Background: Sword Symbolizes Changing Garments
From Priestly Robes to Kingly Authority
Zechariah 3:3-5
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’ 5 And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’
I believe that this visitation, as we will see in the next two parts, offers a corporate invitation about a new Joshua Generation that is emerging. I believe that history books will record 2001-2008 as one of the great seasons of transition for the global end time war drama ahead.
Since the Feast of the Tabernacles, there is one common beat pulsating across the cities and nations that I have witnessed: God is changing the guards in His global Joel 2 end time army. He is remanteling His Bride in new garments, not only the priestly but also the kingly authority, which has never been fully released.
Changing of the Guards
First of all, with three apostolic fathers going home to the Lord - Bill Bright, Derek Prince, and Kenneth Hagen Sr. - there has been an outpouring in the Spirit realm of increased leadership falling on the shoulders of the next tier of global end time war generals. God has released a greater Samuel-like prophetic anointing to set kings in place and re-position and establish key players on the chess board of the government of God. A new level of authority and accountability is on the horizon.
In order to understand my visitation, it is necessary to understand the following context of the movement in the Spirit. We had just finished a 21 day fast at The International House of Prayer under the directorship of Mike Bickle, mandated from Zechariah 3 and 7. The Lord revealed that just as in Zechariah 3, God is changing the garments corporately over the Body of Christ as He combines the two offices of the king and the priest in an unusual and unprecedented way.
New Levels, New Devils
A great promotion is on the horizon; however, all areas of darkness must be brought into the light because our level of abandonment must rise to meet the greater level of authority God wants to give us. Just as Satan was accusing Joshua in Zechariah 3, there is increased satanic attack ahead to thwart the outpouring of God. Right now there are unholy anti-Christ alliances that are networked across the globe, some of which we catch glimpses of: terrorist cells, international thievery in finances in the kingdom of God, and mouse-traps or Haaman’s noose have been set by the enemy in an attempt to try to take out God’s Joel 2 army.
Why is Satan trying to sift us? He is trying to delay and even abort a new end time apostolic outpouring that is just around the corner.
This is a key season of transition in the Spirit. We must have ears to hear and eyes to see what the Spirit of the Lord is saying because if we don’t respond rightly in this moment, we will be left behind in the changing of guards and the shaking of everything that can be shaken.
Signs in the Heavens and Earth
Zechariah 3:8
Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions, who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.
As in Zechariah 3, God is making us a wondrous sign, as forerunners, of how He is about to pour out His Spirit and give us greater access to the angelic, apostolic authority and a realm of glory. We will be walking signs, ahead of our time, testifying of a power explosion that will hit the entire earth.
The heavens also reflect this unusual Holy Spirit activity: this summer’s unprecedented proximity and alignment of Mars to earth, the recent historic solar flares, the lunar eclipse, the Leonid meteor shower, and the total solar eclipse just a few days later on November 28 – each of these signs in the heavens all shout of the many ways God is desperately trying to get our attention!
I believe, in the scheme of things, that this time period leading into the Call Dallas has a specific, strategic mandate purpose to help the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan in pouring out His later reign glory.
Sword of the Lord Is Available to All
I believe that Todd and my angelic encounters, the releasing of this sword to Paul Keith, the keen and key prophetic interpretation from Bobby Conner, and my own visitation of encountering the Living Sword of God reveals a prophetic picture for the Body of Christ as a whole. Like piecing together a puzzle, we all operated in a cluster anointing to put together all the clues in the Spirit of what God is saying.
I believe that we, like Joshua in Zechariah 3, are a living sign of an impartation God is releasing in His hour, which is not just for Todd or me, but it’s for everyone! The Lord is releasing a Hebrews 4:12 living Word of God sword to all who are willing to pay the price for it. If, like Joshua, we exchange our filthy garments for the rich robe and clean turban God is offering, the Zadok sword will be placed in our hands by The Angel of the Lord.
God is changing our weapons of warfare! We cannot model them by elements of the past because the Lord is not only changing the guards, but remanteling the Body in new garments. As we learn the difference between the profane and holy, and use this season of grace to fall on the rock, lest the rock fall on us, we will wear new garments in the Spirit.
Joshua Commissioning:
There is a Joshua commissioning in this hour. It is not enough, like Moses, to deliver God’s people from oppression and bondage. God is anointing Joshua’s to take the Promised Land. As God went with Moses, so He is going with us.
When we embrace both the priestly and kingly garments, grab hold of this living Sword of the Lord, and believe for another even greater healing revival than what Branham saw, God is telling us one statement: You have not been this way before! (Joshua 3:4)
Preparing for End Time Martyrdom – Part II
Rev 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
More from the recent Elijah List sponsored, Fresh Fire and Master Potter Ministries’ joint Glory Week Conference with Todd Bentley, Jill Austin, Bobby Conner, and Paul Keith Davis:
November 15, 2003
I experienced a profound angelic visitation about the Sword of the Lord, end time martyrdom, and the key to apostolic authority, which I will share in the next two parts; this encounter with heaven offered me fresh, new revelation detailing this shifting because I believe that it was a Kairos corporate word to the Body of Christ; today’s word, the second of a three part series, shows how the Lord is raising up dead men walking: “Those who will love not their lives even unto death.”
The Visitation Continues …
After receiving the Sword of the Lord [narrated in Part 1 of the three part word], the Lord took me to a deeper place of revelation where I was suddenly whisked under the wide expanse of the wings of this great warrior angel. We began to fly! First, we were soaring above cities and nations, and then, as quick as lightning, I was gliding through the heavens over a smoky, thick glory that was blanketing the great expanse below. Fire was raging all around and through me as we flew into realms of eternity.
This mighty warring angel had such weighty governmental authority from heaven! He had the face of a lion and then that of a man. A fierce holiness and glory radiated from his countenance. This ancient messenger was called the Guardian of the Glory. He was released to protect the name and fame of our Lord.
As I went up into the heavens, as far as my eye could see, legions of warring angels were waiting for a word from the Captain of the Host to release them. The sounds of horses and chariots rumbled in the distance as huge warring angels, dressed in military attire, came forward. The Lord showed me that these were ancient angels who had been gathered specifically for this end time hour. They were simply waiting to be released for the fresh mandates from the throne.
Suicide Missions: Ready to Kill
Rev 9:14-15
“So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.”
Through revelation, I suddenly realized that many of these angels were assigned to humans who were on literal suicide missions for the Lord. Many of the saints were being prepared to die. These fleets of angels were like an army of secret service body guards. These holy angels were so sobering! Their countenance was set like flint; they were unswerving and unwavering in their mission; they would protect the saints until it was their appointed hour to die.
Many of us have the promise of martyrdom for our lives. The Lord explained how the saints are being commissioned and sent into increasingly dangerous battles, but the Lord will not let us die before our time. A violent love – almost a jealous rage and fervent protection – arms these guardian angels that protect us. The purposes of God from the Throne Room of Heaven will not be thwarted. I felt these angels would kill anyone who tried to take us out before our time.
The Battle is the Lord’s
I knew, even beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we would be supernaturally protected. The Sword of Hebrews 4:12 was in one hand and a great rod of authority was in my left hand. The priestly and kingly anointing were married.
His fierce and violent love flooded my heart with such a sense of peace and abandonment. I could free fall into the purposes of God with such a confidence that nothing would separate me from the love of God and His purposes.
These ancient legions of warring angels were being trained to perfection for battle, simply waiting for the dispatching of the Captain of Hosts. Though their mission is dangerous - the cost is life and death - nothing will stop them from protecting the King’s Bride.
Current Reality: 600 Million Suffering People
Seventy-five percent of the world’s Christians live in third world nations — nations that are predominantly Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim. Persecution in many nations brings extortion, family division and separation, harassment, and discrimination in employment and education while over 600 million Christians live as second-class citizens in their societies.
Pacifying Theology
In the Western church today, "intimacy with Jesus" has become a sweet and oft-heard phrase echoing in church halls as believers quote from Philippians 3:10: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection …” but they don’t finish the verse: "… and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."
The Western church has developed a pacifying theology that suffering is not the will of God, but that it is Satan having his way in the life of a believer. Accusations in our hearts about God’s inability to alleviate pain and suffering in our lives will prevent us from embracing the Cross.
But it we truly want to be one who is a Bride fit for her husband, we must be willing to do that which He did - lay down our lives for the sake of love.
Love: The Key to Apostolic Authority – Part III
Bob Jones, in a life after death experience, went to heaven. As he stood before the Lord, only one question was asked of him: “Did you learn to love?” When one said yes, the Lord’s heart opened like two gates for them to enter, and they went into eternity.
My final prophetic message also reverberates how only one thing remains: Love.
Suffering Servant: Key to Greatness
Phil 3:10-11
10 “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
I encountered Jesus as the Suffering Servant. He revealed to me that the key to greatness is taking the same path that He did - the road to the Cross.
Suddenly, I was transported from the legion of angels surrounding the throne to a new scene. The next angel came with a silver tray. I knew instantly that the Lord was asking me to take communion.
The Lord presented me with a silver cup and asked me to drink His cup of suffering. In other encounters, I had always seen the Lord’s cup as a clay goblet, but this cup was silver with a mirror-like finish, almost like the Sea of Glass. The Lord told me that the silver was for redemption. On the tray there was a hot scroll instead of a loaf of bread. I drank the wine and ate the scroll to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
The next thing I saw was Jesus coming with His crown of thorns. The lacerations on his back, the whippings and scourging all were before me. He asked me to wear His crown and then He placed it on my head as He said, “Will you be a partaker of My sufferings? Will you drink of My cup?” As blood began to pour down my face, the Lord was transposed over me. All I saw was Him as the Suffering Servant; I was in Him and I could feel His heart break over the cries of humanity.
To Love Like He Loves Opens up the Gates to Apostolic Authority
Instantly, I was transported across the Sea of Glass with two gates standing before me. As I am being launched through these gates, I am on the chest of Jesus, hidden in the folds of His robes. My head is tucked in His chest, buried in My Beloved like John.
I started hearing His heartbeat as I heard the poundings of eternity. The cries of the oppressed, the broken, and the lost surrounded me. I could hear the intercession of, “How long, oh Lord?” The sounds of His heart were the cries of humanity. The roar of the prisoners engulfed me and I began to sob in this visitation. I could feel His broken heart, His great love, and His cup of suffering for He is the lovesick Bridegroom longing for His Bride! I could feel the sobs of the earth below intermingled with the canopy of heaven’s worship above.
All of a sudden, His heart opened up like two gated doors and I stepped into the realm of eternity. As I stood near His Throne, I could hear the voices of the tribes and people. I became engulfed in His glory and consuming fire and burning love. The door, the gates to apostolic authority, can only and ever be through His heart of love.
Love Never Fails
Our motivation must be love! With the latest and greatest books boasting of the new recipes and formulas for apostolic authority, we must return to our roots: Love.
When we understand His passion for the lost, His desire for His Bride and His weeping over injustice, then and only then can we contend for greatness. When we prostitute power to build our kingdoms, we are only heaping coals of judgment upon ourselves. We cannot be a clanging gong; we must have love!
Before we know what to do, we must first hear His heart. Love is not just the destination; it is the means to the end. Only after we ask Him for a divine heart surgery – the great exchange of His huge heart for our little one – can we then approach the throne with boldness and contend for power to be endued from on high.
A Revolution of Love
In that hour when we stand before Him, the length of our ministry mailing lists will seem laughable and irrelevant. Ministry trophies that we decorate ourselves with (and behind which we hide) will long be gone … burned away. All else will fade away like grass except just one thing. In this momentary breath that we call “life,” only one thing remains - and only one thing will matter - this and this currency alone can be exchanged for eternity: a burning heart of love for our Savior.
But then when we have returned to our first love and understand His heart for the lost, we can operate in apostolic authority. For the Kingdom of God can only successfully invade the dominion of Satan when we are endued with power from on high. You must have spiritual power to advance the Kingdom but first we must have His passion for people before we can operate in power.
Pressing in for Another Pentecost: Baptized in Love
Today the Lord is calling for another Pentecost! Before that, we must first have another baptism – a baptism of love. Imagine the power of Acts synergistically combined with the astonishing signs and wonders of Exodus. The doors of His heart will open to us – but it must be after we cast down our crowns and put on His crown of thorns.
God wants to release us as radical revolutionists who are so in love with Love Himself that we cannot help but bring heaven to earth. With Heaven so invading our lives and with His heart so pounded through ours, that we cannot help but trail blaze this world with His glory.
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